New Kid In Town

Three months to the day that I left the Good Life to come to Mali. Seems like forever ago or like it happened only a few weeks ago. Time is bizarre.

I have spent about two weeks now at site. Right now my main goals are getting to know everyone in town,  continuing my learning of Bambara, observing and integrating into my new community.

My days begin with making breakfast that until recently was boiling water for instant coffee and unwrapping a Cliff Bar. I’ve been able to have eggs a few days a week now that I have my little gas grill set up. When I leave my house I immediately step out into the dugutiki’s concession and the greetings begin. How are you? How is your family? Did you sleep well? Was there peace? Where are you going? It is Malian culture to greet everyone that you pass in this similar fashion.

Oh and my community changed my name to Miriam instead of MusoKoura. Some people still call me by my old name, but Miriam Traoré has been spreading through town.

Some days I went to the CSCOM, our community health center, to get to know the staff and kind of see how they operate. On one of the days I helped weigh and measure babies to monitor growth when women were bringing their babies in for vaccinations. I probably saw around 50 babies from my town and surrounding villages. They have some sort of system set up so that everyone doesn’t come in the same week. So there are more babies out there. So many children here in Mali! I found out that the only medicine that they distribute for free is Coartem, which is used to treat Malaria. Also there are about 150 mosquito nets sitting in storage right now donated from USAID. They are supposed to be distributed to children and pregnant women. Already I am seeing things I can begin working on. There is not a doctor at our center, with the nearest doctor being in Markala about 65K away. The staff includes: a highly trained nurse who is the head of our CSCOM(male), a vaccinator (male), a matrone (female) and a sort of pharmacist (female). I asked what were the most common sicknesses in the area and they said Malaria and dehydration issues when small children fall ill. Country wide, Malaria is the leading cause of death.

One day I sat in on a class at the elementary/middle school. I noticed that many of the classrooms only had about 6-10 children in them. I spoke with one of the teachers and he said that many of the kids are working out in the fields or their parents say they cannot afford to go to school. This is something I hope to learn more about as I get to know people better in my community. Education is a huge issue in Mali as most drop out of school around the age of 12. Currently the nearest high school is in Markala. They just started work building a high school in Dioro, but that is still a long bus ride away.

I’m really starting to like my host family. My host dad’s wife passed away about 5 years ago so I usually spend most of my time with his brother’s family. The brother has two wives and is about to take a third. The current two wives are not happy about it, but Islamic law allows up to four wives. My family consists of my host dad Aloo, his daughter Amenetta and her baby also named Aloo. Then there is Aloo’s brother, Lasigne and his two wives Mama and Kanee. Between them they have 5 children ranging in age from about 16 to an 8 month old baby. I love hanging out with the women of this family. Almost every afternoon they sell sweet potato french fries so I have been helping make those. The night is usually finished with a mini dance party with the kids, music provided from someone’s cellphone.

Every Sunday my town has a market. The town becomes filled with vendors selling produce, baked breads, livestock, household items, street food, etc. This is also the day that I get to see other PC Volunteers and speak English! I have two other volunteers within biking distance from me, Mike and Shawn. Mike is a Water & Sanitation Volunteer from the East Coast who worked as a civil engineer for a few years before coming to PC. He has been here for about 18 months so he acts as our translator often during market day. Shawn is from Iowa and was in my training class. I feel spoiled that I get to see other Americans at least once a week and they are both great guys!

It’s been an emotional roller coaster settling in. Some days my Bambara just seems to flow and I’m able to have some good conversations. Other days are frustrating and I get sick of people staring at me. Sometimes I just have to go in my house and listen to music, recharge. And I have been missing friends and family a lot lately. But overall I am doing well. My community is growing on me and I cannot wait to really start working with them. I am already observing some possible projects and people that would make for great work partners!

Will be heading back to my town very shortly. I will be back to Internet on February 15-19, when I am back in Segou for the music festival. I cannot wait! Segou is going to be hopping and the music played right on the river.

Hope you are all having a great start to the New Year!

 

Advertisement